Barrister and Solicitor LLB M Mgt (Dispute Resolution) FAMINZ (Mediation/Arbitration)

Chris has been a lawyer for more than 30 years. He has had many years practising as a barrister in Auckland, including recently as an in house advocate for construction conciliations and arbitrations for Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation. This is a project which is the largest transportation infrastructure initiative in the world to-date, with an estimated cost of $ US 15 Billion.

Chris has a diverse legal background and has appeared in all levels of courts and tribunals in New Zealand. He has had a number of cases reported in New Zealand law reports and is recognised as very experienced in a number of areas including insolvency litigation. He has undertaken criminal jury trials and criminal appeals to the Court of Appeal. He has argued a number of judicial review cases including appeals to the Court of Appeal. He has also argued many substantial civil trials in the District Court and High Court including a major trial lasting 5 weeks. He has also appeared in the Maori Land Court, Taxation Review Authority and other tribunals.

Chris has a particular interest in construction and building law and is a member of the panel of Building Adjudicators held by the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute. He has completed a Master of Management in Dispute Resolution through Massey University, presenting as the Research Report an examination of the Judicial Settlement Conference in New Zealand. He is a Fellow of AMINZ in Mediation and Arbitration.

Chris was the Convenor of the Auckland District Society Library for many years. He has been actively involved with the Library and other committees for many years, and has presented a number of seminars for the Society and for other publishers such as LexisNexis. He is an editor for Brookers District Court Procedure. Chris is a Costs Assessor for the New Zealand Law Society in Auckland.

Chris is now with Mike Garnham Lawyers in Wellington New Zealand, but works throughout New Zealand as required.. The email address of chris@lahatte.co.nz is still current, and also chris.lahatte@garnhamlaw.co.nz.

See his Blog at http://lahatte.blogspot.com/